Spark intensifier



Filed oct". 17,- 1924- IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES GILBERT BAKKE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPARK INTENSIFIER.

Application led October 17, 1924. Serial No. 744,127.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, GILBERT BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Spark Intensii'ier, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a spark intensifier, adapted for use with spark plugs for intensifying the spark which is obtained at the sparking electrodes which are used for igniting the combustible material surrounding them. In order to intensify the spark at the sparking points I have provided an insulating member which is adapted to insulate the metal eyelet which is attached to the cable and which embraces the stem of thespark plug and prevents Contact of the eyelet with any metal portion of the spark plug so that the electrical energy delivered to the eyelet through the cable from the source of electrical energy is forced to jump a gap in order to reach the metal portion of the spark plug.

I am aware that intensiiiers of this class have been constructed, but the present invention is intended to present a novel arrangement for accomplishing the intensifying of the spark. The present invention is adapted for mounting on the outer portion of the electrode very easily and quickly and is so constructed as to be adaptable for use with various kinds of cables, thc intensifier being loose from the cable and not perinanently attached thereto as are some intensifiers of which I am aware.

It is an object of the invention to provide an intensifier which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture and highly efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an intensifier consisting of separate parts which may be mounted on the outer portion of the spark plug electrode so as to securely insulate the eyelet connected to the cable supplying the energy from all Contact with any metal portion of the plug.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spark plug intensifier formed from a pair of parts, one of said parts having a neck for entering the eyelet of the cable and provided with a plurality of radial slots, communicating with the bore of the neck.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood from a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the invention attached to a spark plug,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central section view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the parts used in the invention.

The invention is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 as applied to a conventional spark plug 7 having the porcelain portion 8 through which is projected the metallic electrode 9, the upper end of which is threaded. A nut 10 is threaded on the electrode Sand engages the washer 11.

An insulating disk 12, made from fibre or other suitable non conducting material is provided with a central opening through which the electrode 9 may project. Projecting outwardly from one face of the disk, and preferably made integral therewith from some non conducting material is a neck 13 which is provided with a plurality of radially extending slots 14 which serve to di- Vide the neck into a plurality of sections. The disk 12 is adapted for seating on the electrode 9, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the neck being projected outwardly toward the end of theV electrode which is exterior of the spark plug proper. The cable 19 which is connected to the battery or other source of electrical energy is provided with a inetallic clip 18 having an eyelet 17 formed at the end, adapted for being mounted on the neck 13 in embracing relation. A libre or non conducting washer 15 is mounted on the electrode so as to insulate the eyelet from the metal nut 16 which is threaded on the electrode and serves to bind the washer firmly against the eyelet.

With this structure the eyelet is insulated from the metal of the spark plug and no direct contact of the eyelet with the metal of the spark plug is possible. The cur rent ilo-wing into the eyelet is forced to jump the gap separating its edges from the electrode 9, when a sufficient potential is built up to cause the current to jump the gap. It will be noted that this jumping of the current is radially of the electrode 9 and directly toward the electrode itself. I am aware that some of the intensifiers cause the spark to jump through openings provided in the washer l5, so that the current passes from the eyelet to the nut 1G and then to the electrode i). The direct jumping of the current to the electrode is desirable as this forni of intensifier proves more efficient than one wherein there is an indirect jump of the current.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of structure I do not Wish to limit myself to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modiiications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An intensiiier of the class described comprising a non-conducting disk; a neck. projecting outwardly from one face of said disk, and having a plurality of radially eX- tending slots formed therein, said disk and neck having a centrally disposed opening formed therein, said slots communicating with the opening in said neck; and a non conducting'washer adapted for mounting on said neck, said washer having an opening formed centrally therein for the reception of said neck.

2. An intensifier of the class described comprising a disk formed from some nonconducting material and having a centrally disposed opening formed in it; a neck formed from non-conducting material, projecting outwardly from one face of said disk, concentrically of the opening in said disk, said neck having an opening formed therein in registration with the opening in said disk, said neck having a plurality of radially projecting slots formed therein communicating with the opening passing through said neck; and a non-conducting washer adapted for seating on said neck in embracing relation.

3. An intensifier of 'the class described adapted for use with a spark plug having' of radially e-Xtendinfr slots separating saidsections, said neck being of sufficient size for the reception of said eyelet about it in embracing relation; and a non-conducting Washer, having a centrally disposed opening for the reception of said neck said washer being adapted fori clampingk engagement against said eyelet for retaining the same in assembled position on said neck, upon the threading of the binding nut used with the upper end of said electrode.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing.

GILBERT BAKKE. 

